Hackett Little League went all out in preparation to host their annual rivalry game against the Mansfield Tigers. The players had made College Gameday style signs to hang. The rivalry trophies were polished and set out for all to see. The field was lined up perfectly. And the announcer was excited and ready to entertain the masses. All they needed was a football game to take place. With all the planning made, the one thing Hackett didn’t plan on was the outcome at night’s end.
3/4 Hornets
The Hornet 3rd and 4th Grade suffered a loss to Lavaca the previous week and was out for redemption against Mansfield. The Hackett players and coaches squared off against their opponents with ferocity in their eyes as the first snap was taken. The Hornets made out with a few good defensive stops with Mason Mathis and Collin Cooper plugging up the running backs and forcing them to run to the outside on the perimeters of the field.
3/4 Hornets
Noah Rogers and Austin Gordon came up with some big open field tackles forcing the Tigers to become creative with their game. The Hornets couldn’t seem to match the speed of the Mansfield backs on a few occasions giving up a few big runs. Hackett’s offense struggled during the game but shown a spark late in the game when Zayden Holbert was able to snag a big pass to get the Hornets on the board, but it’s wasn’t enough as Hackett lost 38-6.
3/4 Hornets
Hackett 3rd and 4th Grade isn’t done yet though. The Hornets have earned the #2 seed in the Playoffs and will have a bye week to prepare for the winner of the Round 1 game between #4 Cedarville and #5 Mountainburg on November 2nd at home. Hackett did not face either team during the regular season but will be fully prepared none the less for anything that comes their way.
5/6 Hornets
Hackett’s 5th and 6th Grade was tied for the #2 seed in the Playoffs with Mansfield. Both teams had only one loss in the season which came at the hands of #1 Magazine. Hackett started out strong offensively with a solid ground and pound running game behind running back Elijah Rodgers, but it didn’t take long for the Tigers to figure out how to stop it. The Hornet defense held strong against Mansfields short yardage runs and was able to keep any trick plays at bay. Defenders Hunter Mays, Matthew Garner, and Chris Elkins came up with some big takedowns. Towards the end of the half, Hackett opened up the passing game and connected a few hefty yardage passes which built momentum going into halftime. The Hornets were able to put 20 points on the scoreboard, but could not stop Mansfields powerful run game which created a final score of Mansfield 44 Hackett 20.
5/6 Hornets
The loss dropped the Hornets to the #3 seed in the playoffs which means they will host #6 West Fork at home on Saturday, October 26. The Hornets already beat West Fork 32-8 in the first week of the season and they are ready to do it again. Hackett will do what Hackett always does…..work and practice hard to get the win.
The Mansfield School Board met on Monday evening, October 21. Board members present included Trent Hayslip, Mark Barton, Dewayne Ward and Mike Gipson. Board President Rick Nicodemus was absent. Also present, Superintendent Joe Staton.
Missing from the agenda, and from the meeting…prayer. Gipson inquired about the omission. Staton shared that the Wisconsin group, Freedom From Religion, had filed a formal grievance against the school. As a result, prayer was removed from both the agenda and from the meeting itself.
This isn’t the first time FFR has come against the district. Last year, they rallied to end prayer at graduation.
Next, the board voted to go into executive session at 6:02 p.m. After reconvening at 6:28 p.m., members accepted the resignation of Carla Carter, a cafeteria worker at the elementary school. Additionally, voted to hire Emily Myers, full-time.
In the superintendent’s report, Staton shared training dates and times. Lastly, shared progress on repairs being done to the baseball field fencing. “We will try to have that done before wet weather gets here,” added Staton.
High School Principal Donnie Eveld and Elementary Principal Kim Arnold both gave brief positive progress reports.
With no other items of business, the meeting of the Mansfield School Board was adjourned.
In 2014 Melissa Bonniksen lay critical in the hospital with an infection. Without a life-saving blood plasma transfusion she wouldn’t survive. Hundreds of miles away, and five years later she would have the opportunity to meet four of the five donors who saved her life.
One of those donors was Vestal Hutchens, 69, of Waldron. Hutchens and three others across Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas were contacted by Tamika Hudgens with the Oklahoma Blood Institute. “On July 30, I got the call by Tamika,” shared Hutchens. “She said your blood plasma saved my sister-in-law’s life…I said lady, I am about to cry. She said don’t start, I’ll cry too!”
Hudgens would extend an invitation to attend the surprise reunion with Bonniksen and pay for the family’s stay and fuel costs.
Blood plasma donor, Vestal Hutchens (left) and recipient Melissa Bonniksen.
On Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 6 p.m., the tear-filled, emotional Bonniksen came face-to-face with each of her donors. “I was blessed beyond measure,” Hutchens added. “It was an honor to be a part of this wonderful event.”
Both Hutchens and his wife Judy have routinely donated blood for over thirty years. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.
The banquet was an honor for both gift giver and receiver, and was an evening that both will always cherish.
If you get the chance, drive to downtown Fort Smith toward the Immaculate Conception Church. In the curve there that divides Garrison and Rogers Avenue is a new park being finished. Gateway Park has been built where a multi-colored building that once housed AC Taylor Mobile Service Station on the triangle-shaped property. It is now a monument of sandstone steps and half-walls that lead visitors to three historically significant statues. The statues are in the likenesses of Judge Isaac Parker, John Carnall, and Mother Superior Mary Teresa Farrell.
The statues were created by a Kansas City artist named Spencer Schubert. Schubert created a 3:1 model of the statues to show what his vision was before completing the final ones unveiled last week. He is known nationwide for his many works.
Judge Isaac Parker is the most recognizable of the three statues. His likeness and life are known far and wide in this area of the nation. He is depicted sitting in a chair and reading a law book as he faces Washington, D.C. Parker served in the US Congress for two terms in Missouri and became interested in Native American issues. Because of this, President U.S. Grant appointed him the judge over the United States District Court for Arkansas’ Western District. He was the youngest federal judge west of the Mississippi River at 36 years old.
He and John Carnall worked together to provide schools in Fort Smith. Most know him as “the hanging judge’ but Parker was fair and honest, bringing civility to Fort Smith and the territory.
The second statue is of John Carnall (1818-1892). Known as ‘the father of Fort Smith Public Schools,’ he was only twenty-two when he moved to Fort Smith and started the first free public school. Through Carnall and other civic leaders, including Judge Parker, government lands were sold and the money went to build schools, hire teachers, and buy supplies. He was also Sebastian County’s first county clerk and established a newspaper, The Fort Smith Elevator, at his own expense. Carnall invested in land, creating subdivisions that expanded the city. Carnall Elementary is named for him.
The third and final statue is of Mother Mary Teresa Farrell who was born in Ireland (1821-1892). She was chosen to come to help teach and care for the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations. She is known for establishing the Sisters of Mercy in Arkansas, building the Mt. Saint Mary Academy, the oldest education institution in Arkansas today. She and other sisters came to Fort Smith by steamboat and began educating many girls, especially girls from prominent Cherokee and Choctaw families.
During the Civil War, their ministry changed from education to health. The sisters closed the schools and turned them into makeshit hospitals for both Confederates and Union soldiers. Teachers became nurses. Mother Mary Teresa Farrell devoted her life to both education and health care in Fort Smith and Arkansas. Her statue faces the convent and the old Saint Edwards Hospital building just behind Immaculate Conception church.
“The Gateway Park is a private/public partnership” according to Ben Griffin. The $750,000 project, Griffin said, noting that the park will be built with privately donated funds. The cost of the statues themselves was around $342,000.The cost of the statues was around $342,000.
Griffin’s family donated $50,000 to the park at the unveiling. Less than $100,000 is now needed to meet the fundraising goal. The park is managed by 64.6 Downtown who is the group behind the mural paintings and other downtown promotions.
Once finished, the park will be turned over to the city of Fort Smith.
Fort Smith is doing so much to keep history alive, improving tourism to all of the River Valley. Look for more projects coming in the near future.
Pictured is the Pirates rushing attack. Photo courtesy of Kali’s Photography.
The Pirates (6-1, 3-1) are off to one of the best starts in school history. You would have to look back to the 1999 football team to find a 6-1 start through the first seven weeks of a season. Making quick work of the Tiger’s (0-7, 0-4), Cedarville rushed out to a quick 35-0 lead early in the second quarter then cruised to finish the game 35-14. The win puts the Pirates in a three-way tie for second place in their conference.
Kelin Mitchell and Darryl Kattich on reaching 1,000 rushing yards. Photo courtesy of Rodney Dickens.
This night would be one for the record books and would once again belong to the Pirate duo who have been tearing up the gridiron so far this season. Both Pirate running backs, Kelin Mitchell and Darryl Kattich, broke the 1,000-yard mark on the same night in week 7. Mitchell had 7 carries for 190 yards with 2 touchdowns on the night getting him to 1,139 rushing yards so far this season. Kattich had 9 carries for 163 yards with 3 touchdowns on the night getting him to 1,039 yards so far this season. Nine different backs carried the ball 41 times totaling 490 yards on the night for the Pirates.
Cody Dickens at Quarterback. Photo Courtesy of Kali’s Photography.
The Pirates will host Greenland (3-4, 1-3) for Senior Night this Friday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 19th was the day both Hackett and Mansfield Little League Football programs had waited for all season. It was Rivalry Game Day and the stakes couldn’t be any higher for these games. Mansfield had lost both Rivalry Trophies last season to Hackett and the Tigers were going to do everything they could to get them back in the jungle. The programs were also vying for the top two WCFL playoff seeds. And most of all, it was Mansfield vs Hackett…..enough said.
3/4 Tigers
Mansfields 3rd and 4th Grade team starting things off on the gridiron. It didn’t take long for the Tiger offense to get on the board as Colton “00 Buckshot” Nelson caught the outside edge of the Hornet defense going untouched for 63-yards in the first score of the night. Colton Moore tacked on the 2 point conversion and just like that the game was 8-0 Tigers. Just three minutes later in the first quarter, Mansfields Hunter Whittaker found a gap in the Hornet hive and took the ball 63-yards to the house. Another Moore 2 point conversion had the Tigers up 16-0.
#00 Colton Nelson
After shutting down the Hackett offense, Whittaker yet again broke free this time for a 36-yard touchdown. The Tigers weren’t able to convert the extra points so they were left with a score of 22-0. Colton Moore recovered a fumble on Hacketts next possession and shortly after pounded his way into the end zone. It was Nelson who sealed the Hornets fate when he made the biggest run of the game busting out for a 71-yard touchdown. Hackett managed to pull some trickery with a double pass which opened them up for a big running touchdown late in the game, but it was the Tigers who came out on top 38-6.
3/4 Tigers
With the victory, the 3rd and 4th Grade Tigers completed their regular-season games undefeated at 6-0. Mansfield also gained possession of the Sebastian County Rivalry Trophy. They now hold the #1 Seed in the WCFL Playoffs and will have a bye week for the first round. The Tigers will then host the winner of the #3 JC Westside and #6 Lavaca game at Tiger Stadium on November 2nd.
Jr Cash, Alex Hecox, and James Bausley
The Tigers 5th and 6th Grade team knew they were going to face an evenly matched team in Hackett who were statistically dead even with them. But what was written on paper versus what was done on the field was a completely different story. Mansfield stepped up to the challenge and decimated the Hornets with a final score of 44-20. Mansfield Running back Dawson Robinson stole the show scoring three times in just the first half with runs of 60, 43, and 53 yards.
#17 Joseph Carter
The Tiger defense pounced on anyone in yellow creating chaos in the Hackett backfield. Alex “Ax-Man” Hecox and James “Critter” Bausley had the Hornets quarterback on edge all night as the duo each came up with two hard-hitting sacks and two fumble recoveries. Jr Cash and Dominic Shores were warriors of the edges as they didn’t let a soul pass to the outside of them all night.
#7 Alex Looper and #50 Jacob Elmore
The Hornets weren’t able to power their way through the Tiger D, so they turned to the passing game. Cooper Edwards picked off a short pass by Hackett and screamed downfield for a defensive Tiger touchdown. Dawson Robinson would add one more offensive touchdown to the game to give the Tigers the “dub-ya”.
5/6 Tigers
The 5th and 6th Grade Tigers finished their regular season with a 5-1 record. The team was rewarded with the Mackey/Campbell Trophy to show off at Mansfield Middle School for the entire next year. Mansfield will be the #2 Seed in the WCFL Playoffs and will welcome the winner of the #4 Greenland and #5 Lavaca game to Tiger Stadium on November 2nd.
On Saturday, October 19, the Waldron Cross Country Sr High and Jr High teams showed off their leg speed in the Van Buren Pointer Classic. Along with 30 other teams, the Bulldogs stepped onto the dirt as their opponents quivered with fear at the thought of having to race them. With one meet left until District, Waldron has had an impeccable season with no signs of that slowing down now.
The Sr High Girls’ team took First Place in the Invitational with Maria Grano medaling in 2nd with a new personal best of 21:33. The Top 15 from each division took home a medal. Constance Richmond earned 8th with a time of 23:22, Ryleigh Anschutz took 10th with a 24:12 time, McKenzi Stidman made 11th with 24:13, Melissa Schroeder secured 14th clocking in at 24:49, and Kentucky Spence placed 15th with 24:56.
Jordan Kerr and Landon Defoor
The Sr High Boys’ team grabbed a Third Place win with two Bulldogs seeing a payday. Ethan Martin placed 10th with 19:02 and Baldy Villarreal took 14th with a time of 19:33. The Jr High Boys’ team placed 2nd with Landon Defoor taking 14th at 13:38 and Jordan Kerr earning 15th with 13:43. The Jr High girls who received medals were Emily Sears in 9th with a time of 12:10, Ailey Ledesma in 10th with 12:47, and Ashlynn Stidman taking 12th clocking in at 13:12.
The Bulldogs will take on their final meet before District on Wednesday, October 23 at the Top 25 SW Regional in Acorn at 3:30 p.m. District will follow on October 28 at 4 p.m. in Elkins.
Shirley Jean Massongill of Beaucamp, Arkansas passed from this life, Friday, October 18, 2019 in Mena, Arkansas surrounded by her family. Shirley was born January 29, 1940 in Cedar Creek, Arkansas. She was 79 years old.
Shirley was an avid reader. She enjoyed a lot of different styles of writing. After she retired, Shirley enjoyed going to the casino and playing Bingo. Shirley loved her family and spending time with them.
Shirley leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving husband Ben Massongill of Beaucamp, Arkansas and one son, Mark Massongill and by her loving daughter-in-law Marlene also of Beaucamp, Arkansas. Granny Shirley will forever be missed by her grandchildren: Austin, Justin and Nicole as well as her great grandchildren: Trenton, Caydance, Colton, Hayden and Tacee and one great great grandchild, Titus. Shirley will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of friends and neighbors she loved dearly.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Teresa Massongill Broussard and one grandson, Christopher Massongill.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.
You may leave words of remembrance for Shirley’s family by visiting: www.heritagememorialfh.com.
What a difference a week can make. A week ago today, we were talking about Charleston coming off an emotional loss and having to regroup mentally. A week later, all is good with the world again, and the Tigers find themselves looking at a game this Friday that can not only put them in a tie for first place, but would give them a tie breaker advantage over Booneville for a top seed in the state playoffs.
The Tigers showed what they are made of last week when they traveled to Paris and defeated an up and coming, talented, Paris football team. Charleston had over 400 yards of total offense in the game and gave up less than 150 yards on defense. In the end, the Tigers won going away with a strong running game and ball control offense. When the Tigers got on the bus to return home, they only had one player who sustained a minor injury, but not enough to be overly concerned. He should be ready to play on Friday. In fact, the Tigers hope to get yet another player back for the Booneville game, as well.
Last week at Paris, the Tigers completed 18 of 25 attempts passing for 153 yards. Quarterback Brayden Ross averaged 8.5 yards per completion for a passing completion percentage of 72%. Charleston ran for 265 yards on 47 carries. They averaged 5.6 yards per carry, and had a longest run of 19 yards. The Tigers rushed for four touchdowns.
On defense, the Tigers sacked Paris five times for a total loss of 39 yards. They pressured the Eagles quarterback for four hurries throughout the game. The pressure created three interceptions that were key to the Tigers victory. In addition to the three interceptions, Charleston capitalized on three fumble recoveries, two of which were forced by the defense. The Tigers gained 35 yards on the fumble recoveries.
Charleston will need to be as effective on offense and defense against the defending Class 3A Booneville Bearcats. The Bearcats are coming off a big road victory over Mansfield in which its running game dominated Mansfield, and Booneville passed the football just one time.
Coach Ricky May commented on his team’s performance against Paris. “We gave up 29 yards rushing, and we gave up around 147 total yards. So that was good. Offensively, we played well. I think we had over 400 yards of offense, Breckon Ketter rushed well, and we had several other guys that had significant carries. So we felt good about that part of it coming out of the game. It was kind of an emphasis last spring to be able to run the ball.”
On the importance of this game to the playoff picture, Coach May said, “Definitely the winner of this one will be in the driver’s seat. But Booneville still has to play Lamar, and we still have to play Lamar. So, it would definitely put the winner in the driver’s seat.”
Booneville is the defending state champions and returns a team that lost some key players to graduation. Graduation has affected the Bearcats depth this year, but nevertheless, Booneville is a very good team who will be a tough out in the state playoffs.
When asked about his team’s mental state following the road win at Paris, May responded, “It’s really good. We struggled in the first half a little bit, and there again, we didn’t start real fast, we’ve got to start this one a little faster, and get after it. I think as far as their mental state though, these kids don’t change much. They don’t get up or down as much, they’re just pretty steady.”
Coach May talked about several Booneville players that stand out to him as the Tigers prepare for the Bearcats. “Andrew Robertson, their senior running back, he’s rushed for around 500 yards, and he’s just a lightning bolt. He plays hard. And then their fullback (Cam Brasher) is a senior, and he is the bull of the ring, plays hard, plays a good linebacker position too. He’s a good one. Then they have a little sophomore, Randon Ray, he’s almost a carbon copy of Andrew (Robertson). They’re both smaller kids but man they play like they’re 180 (lbs.) I think he has over 500 or 600 yards rushing. So, it’s one of things of who do you try to stop. They’re balanced, their quarterback, Schlinker (Evan Schlinker), he’s rushed for over 300 yards. So, it’s a four-headed monster.”
Through seven games, the Booneville offense has attempted 32 passes and have completed 17 for a total of 267 yards. The Bearcats average 15.7 yards per completion. They have passed for 3 touchdowns and have thrown 2 interceptions. Rushing, Booneville has rushed for 2,208 yards on 333 carries. They average 6.6 yards per rush. Per game, the Bearcats average 315.4 yards. They have rushed for 32 touchdowns.
Defensively, Booneville has 171 solo tackles, 226 assists, and average 56.7 tackles per game. They have 40 tackles on the season for negative yards. The Bearcats have sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times for a total loss of 145 yards. The Booneville defense averages 2.9 sacks per game.
Booneville’s defense has 4 interceptions for the year. They have 11 fumble recoveries and have forced six. They have one blocked punt on the year.
Similar to the Tigers game against Cedarville, this will be an old-fashioned, hard hitting game in which both teams will try to impose their will to run the football on each other. Both teams play a physical brand of football.
Friday night’s game at Alumi Stadium could be a classic. Both the Charleston and Booneville football programs have a tradition of championship excellence, and both know how to win. Both are coached by great head coaches and will have their teams prepared to play. With three weeks to go in the season, the implications of this game on the standings could not be higher.
Booneville 4-0
Charleston 3-1
Cedarville 3-1
Lamar 3-1
Mansfield 2-2
A Charleston victory combined with a Mansfield win over Lamar will put Charleston in first place and Booneville and Cedarville in a tie for second place. Charleston would have the tie breaker over both teams.
It is a testament to this team that through all the injuries and adversity that they have faced, they enter week eight with an opportunity to be in first place in the conference. Charleston has been pointing toward the playoffs since that horrible month in September when it fought it’s way through a murderous non-conference road schedule playing short-handed from a multitude of injuries. As Coach May said, this team doesn’t change much mentally, and that has paid off for the Tigers.
A famous coach once said, “nothing is as good as it seems, and nothing is as bad as it seems.” That has rang true for the Tigers all season. As bad as September was for Charleston, it was not that bad. And now, the Tigers may be playing for a chance to win a conference championship on Friday.
It is time for Tiger fans to fill Alumni Stadium on Friday. The Bearcats are coming to town!
A group of residents in the Hartford community have been working hard to improve their city, making it a great place to live. One of those residents, city employee Rich Galyen, has a great vision for the future.
Part of that vision has been to beautify the main street. Anyone who drives through town can see that he has worked hard and found success. As he looks to the future he has one goal, to bring Christmas back to Hartford.
“I want to light up the park,” stated Galyen. He cannot do it alone, though. He is looking for anyone willing to donate either their time or materials to install electrical outlets throughout the park. Galyen, who is quite passionate about the project stated, “my late wife, she loved Christmas.”
Members of the Hartford Pride committee will be hosting several other upcoming events, including the first annual chili cookoff, fall festival and horseshoe tournament. All three events will be on November 9, beginning at 10 a.m.
On October 31, the city will host Trick or Trunk. There will be games, food, candy and prizes. This event will be held at Hartford City Hall and will begin at 5 p.m. For more information on any of these events, call 479-806-7204 or Hartford City Hall.
